Jordan Leavitt Faces Joanderson Brito on UFC Vegas 118 Prelims
Jordan Leavitt is back at 145 pounds this weekend, and joanderson brito is the name across from him on the UFC Fight Night prelims at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas. Leavitt carries a 13-3 record into a matchup that can extend his new featherweight run after a unanimous decision over Yadier del Valle.
Leavitt's 145-pound Return
The move matters because Leavitt is trying to string together two straight wins in a division he recently dropped into. He enters with seven submission wins on his professional record, and that gives him a clear path if the fight reaches the mat.
Leavitt’s latest win came by unanimous decision against Yadier del Valle, which reset his momentum after the weight change. Before that, he built his UFC résumé through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020 and kept adding results in the Octagon.
Brito Brings Pressure
Brito is the kind of opponent who tests that plan from the first exchange. He keeps an unrelenting pace and throws heavy leather, so Leavitt will not get a clean grappling lane if he gives ground early.
The contrast is sharp. Leavitt has built his name on control and submissions, while Brito arrives as a constant pressure fighter on the same preliminary card at the Meta Apex. That makes this more than a routine featherweight booking; it is a direct read on whether Leavitt can carry his style against a forward-moving striker.
From UFC Vegas 16 To Now
Leavitt’s public profile still traces back to UFC Vegas 16 in December 2020, when he scored a 22-second slam knockout against Matt Wiman and finished with a viral celebration that included a full split on the canvas and twerking against the cage. The footage spread across TikTok, X, and Instagram, and the nickname “Twerk King” stuck with him.
That debut still hangs over his run because it showed both his finishing ability and the personality that made him instantly recognizable. Since then, he has added submission wins over Matt Sayles and Kurt Holobaugh, giving him the kind of record that can travel in a thin division if he keeps stacking results.
For Leavitt, this weekend is about proving the featherweight move is more than a one-off adjustment. A second straight win at 145 pounds would keep his new path moving in the right direction, and Brito’s pace will tell him quickly whether the shift has real staying power.
